Drill cleaning apparatus



April 21, 1936. o, E, SCHIFFNER DRILL CLEANING APPARATUS Fild May 18, 1934 INVENTOR.

01-1-0 E. SCHIFFNER MW/ Q ATTORNEY mines, quarries,

. to. drilli,ng out a, clogged drill passage or core Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UN-l'llilD STATES.

PATENT OFFICE '12 Claims.

I My' invention relates to drill cleaning appa ratus, and more particularly to an apparatus or device forefiecting cleaning of hollow drills of the type generally employed, as rock drills in and analogous places.

Y Introduction Hollowdrills of the character described generally comprise an elongated stem member terminating in a winged drillbit. A passage is formed withinthe stem and-leads through the end of the drill bit. In operation, a cooling fluid, such as water, is conducted through the passage to perform the double function of preventingoverheating of the drill and of washing;

away drillings which tend to accumulate in the passage. It frequently happens during operation, that the passage becomes cloggedby rock dustorother foreign matter, particularly when the'drillis. Qperating in ground containing clay. When clogging occurs, it then becomes necessary to clean the passage for further use of the drill.

Heretofore, various methods have been utilized for effecting cleaning of a clogged drill passage. One of these methods was to employ a tool, such as a hammer, and strike the drill therewith. This method will not dislodge tightlypacked material, Resort has also been taken withanotherv drill. Such method is obviously slowand impractical due to the length of the drill andthe small diameter of the drill passage.

*Ob7e'cts of invention .lyiy invention is designed to obviate the foregoing-described difficulties; and it is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide improved means for effecting cleaning of drills of the char acter described.

1 Another object of my invention is the provision of improved drill cleaning means, in the form ofan apparatus of simple and economical construction. H I

Another object of myinvention is the provision of a. drill cleaning apparatus which will operate to clean drills eflicaciously and rapidly.

Other objects of the invention will become ap 'parent irom 1a. perusal of the following description thereof. 7

' Generd'l description In general terms, the apparatus of .my inventicn comprises means for supporting the drill fcrumovement, together with means for imparting rapid successive impacts to the drilllso as to cause vibration thereof. Preferably, the impacts are effected by a rapidly vibrating hammer member which strikes against a dolly or supporting member for an end of the drill. Although mechanical means can be employed for vibrating the hammer, it is preferred to utilize a fluid pressure operated hammer and to pass some of the fluid under pressure into the passage of the drill while it is'beingvibrated, so as to cooperate in removing the clogged material.

Description 09 drawing Reference will now to made to the drawing for a moredetailed description of the invention. In the drawing: f

- Figure 1 is a front'sectional elevation of the apparatusofmy invention; the drill being shown mountedon the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus, and illustrates in dotted lines a swung away position of the drill supporting cylinder or tube forming part of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a piston or. anvil mounted for cushioned slidable movementin the cylinder or tube of the apparatus, and illustrates a portion of the upper end of a drill in position in the anvil. Figure 4is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the drillcylinder or tube, illustrating a modified form of means for cushioning the movement of the drill anvil.

Figure 5.is a top perspective View of the drill bit supporting member, or dolly, illustrating the crossslots therein for receiving the drill bit wings.

' Detailed description Ascan be seen from Figures 1 and 3, the type of drill which the apparatus of my invention is adapted'to clean comprises a stem I having passage 2 therethrough for conveying cooling fluid to the drill bit or end 3 having drill Wings. 4 extending transversely with respect to each other; it being, of. course, understood that the specific drill construction depicted is merely chosen for purposes of illustration, as the apparatus of my invention can be employed for cleaning any type of hollow drill or any other hollow member having a passage which is apt to become clogged.

W The apparatus or drill cleaning device, in its preferred form, comprises a supporting frame or base 6 having spaced U-bolts'l secured thereto in which is pivotally mounted T-pipe 8 sealed against movement by, spring latch I I of any suit-.

able construction.

Cylinder I3 has anvil or piston I6 slidably mounted therein, of cylindrical shape andhaving in its under end recess I! to receive the upper end of drill stem I. To facilitate proper guiding and alinement of the drill stem in recess II, a

portion I8 thereof is flared outwardly. A-small diameter passage I9 extends through the anvil from the dished top 2| thereof to recess I1; and packing rings 22, of suitable packing -material,-

are seated in the outer surface of -anv'il I6 to provide a fluid tight piston fit withthe inner wall of cylinder I3. In operation, as will be sub-- sequently explained, fluid under pressure is introduced into cylinder I3; and to insure a tight fit of packings 22 with cylinder- I3, radial holes 23 are formed in the anvil to communicate,. from points adjacent the packings 22, with passage I 9.-

This permits the fluid to exert direct pressure against the packings. I

At the lower end thereof, cylinder|3 has apertured drill alining cap 24 screw threaded thereon. When it is desired to insert a drill stem into the cylinder for engagement in recess II of. anvil I6, latch I4 is released and cylinder I3 is swung away from base 6. Theraperture in cap 24 directs proper entrance of the drill into cylinder I3. Removal of the drill is performedin a similar manner. v

From the preceding description,.it is seenv that the upper end of the drill is adapted to be engaged in slidablymounted anvil I6. The lower edges of the wings 4 of the drill bit 3 are adapted for support in cross slots 26 shaped to conform to the Wing edges and located in the top of dolly 21. Dolly 21 has a shoulder 28 resting freely on the top of a pneumatic hammer 29 of any conventional construction and i of the type in which the hammer proper is causedto reciprocate by pneumatic pressure. Also, dolly 21 has a passage 3| leading from the top thereof to the side, and which communicates with-,passage 2 of the drill when supported on the dolly. Piston or hammer member 32 is slidably mounted in pneu-. matic device 29; and, under pneumatic pressure, hammer 32 strikes intermittently against stem 33 of dolly 21 to cause vibration of the dolly and thereby cause vibration or reciprocation of the.

drill. a

Fluid underpressure is introduced into both the pneumatic device 29 below hammer 32 thereof and into the top of cylinder I3, respectively, by pipe 34 connected with device 29 and by pipe 36 connected with pipe I2 leading into cylinder I3. Valves 31 and 38 in pipes 34 and 36, respectively, control flow of fluid therethrough; and both pipes 34 and 36 are connected by T-joint 39 with common supply pipe 4| in. turn connected with a suitable source of pneumatic pressure (not shown) i 7 In operation, the pneumatic pressure causes rapid reciprocation of hammer 32 which in turn strikes dolly 21 intermittently, thus imparting a rapid series of sudden impacts tothedrill to cause vibration or endwise reciprocation thereof with consequent dislodging, by inertia, of clogged material in drill passage 2; the dislodged material escaping through passage 3| in dolly 21. At the same time, inasmuch as fluid is introduced into cylinder I3 above anvil or piston I6, pressure is applied thereto to hold the drill firmly against dolly 21 and to provide air cushioning means acting in opposition to the impacts imparted to the drill by hammer 32. Some of the fluid introduced into cylinder I3 passes through passage I9 in anvil I6, and flows into passage 2 of the drill, to aid in effecting removal of material from passage 2. Also, passage I9 serves as a bleed hole to-allow anvil I6 to be readily moved upwardly in cylinder I3 when the drill is first inserted therein and the fluid pressure is shut ofi.

In order to lubricate the parts, if necessary, a lubricant pipe 42, connected to a suitable lubricant source, is in turn connected to pipe 4|. When lubrication is desired, a suitable valve 43 connected in pipe 42 can be opened.

Although in the preferred. construction, the:

shoulder SI and slidably mounted'anvil 5'. which. is similar in construction to anvil lIi. V 1

I claim: r 1. An apparatus for cleaning a hollowelongated member comprising a cylinder adapted'to receive one end portion of said elongated member, a supporting member for the opposite end portion of said elongated member, a fluid operated hammer for intermittently striking said supporting member, and means for introducing fluid into said cylinder.

2. An apparatus for cleaning a tool having a passagecomprising a' supporting member for said tool and having a passage with which said tool passage is adapted to registen'and means for effecting vibratory movement of said tool.

' 3. Anapparatus for cleaning a tool havinga passage. comprising a supporting member for said tool and having a passage with which said comprising a cylinder, a member for receiving anend of said drill and slidably mounted in' said cylinder, suporting means for an opposite end of said drill, means for moving said supporting means intermittently in one direction,'and means acting against said member for1cushioning said movement. e e

6. An apparatus for cleaning a hollow drill comprising a cylinder, a member for receiving an end of said drill and slidably mounted in said cylinder, supporting means for an opposite end of said drill, means for moving said supporting means intermittently in one direction, and fluid pressure means acting against said member for cushioning said movement, said member having a passage therethrough adapted to allow said fluid to flow into said drill.

7. An apparatus for cleaning a hollow drill comprising a cylinder, a member for receiving an end of said drill and slidably mounted in said cylinder, said member having a passage extending therethrough, and means for imparting reciprocatory movement to said drill.

8. An apparatus for cleaning a hollow drill comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to receive an end portion of said drill, means supported by said frame for effecting reciprocatory movement of said drill, and means mounting said cylinder for swinging movement on said frame to provide for insertion or removal of the drill.

9. An apparatus for cleaning a hollow drill comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to receive an end portion of said drill, means supported by said frame for effecting reciprocatory movement of said drill, means mounting said cylinder for swinging movement on said frame to provide for insertion or removal of the drill, and means for holding the cylinder against said swinging movement during the time the drill is being reciprocated.

10. In an apparatus for cleaning a member having an axially extending passage, a tube, means for supporting said member for endwise movement with a portion of said member within said tube, means for effecting endwise vibratory movement of said member, a frame, and means for movably supporting said tube on said frame to enable insertion or removal of said member.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a tube, a member for engaging an elongated article having a longitudinal passage to be cleaned, said member being movably mounted in said tube, and engageable with an end of said article, and having a passage therethrough adapted to register with the passage in said article, means for introducing fluid to the end portion of said tube adjacent said end of said article, and through the passage of said member and into the passage of said article, and means for vibrating said article.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, spaced members adapted to engage opposite portions of an article having a, passage, each of said members having an aperture adapted to register with said passage, vibrating means acting against one of said members, and means including a tube in which another of said members is movably mounted for introducing fluid through the apertures in said members and through the passage in said article.

OTTO E. SCHIFFNER. 

